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At least 30 peasants, mostly women, were arrested in northern Honduras after the removal of about 100 farm laborers who had refused to vacate private land used for growing sugar cane, police said.

The eviction occurred Tuesday at San Manuel, an area in the northern province of Cortes, where some 30 peasants were arrested when they “would not leave private land,” police spokesman Oscar Aguilar said.

The peasants, who had occupied the farmland since May 23, were removed by police and soldiers, who, Aguilar said, “were only carrying out an order” of a court in the northern city of San Pedro Sula.

The farm laborers will be charged with the crime of invading private property, and in view of the peasants’ warning that they will return to occupy the land once more, “police security will be heightened,” Aguilar said.

The government has entered into four accords with peasants, the latest signed on June 5, to do with the purchase of land, some already growing crops of African palm, from landowners in the Bajo Aguan sector of the Caribbean region, where an agrarian conflict has taken 50 lives over the last four years, with most of the victims being farm laborers.

In October 2011, because of armed clashes between peasants and security guards, President Porfirio Lobo dispatched soldiers and police to the Bajo Aguan sector, but the violence continues.

The new agreement would permit the payment of 327 million lempiras (some $16.8 million) for 2,429 hectares (5,998 acres) of land, some already under cultivation, to Bajo Aguan landowners who specialize in the production of African palm.

Neither party has yet explained why the three previous agreements failed.

Jennifer Lopez delivered medical equipment to the Panama Children’s Hospital that will help “improve health care” for the youngsters of this country, where this week she kicks off her new world tour.

The 42-year-old singer and actress delivered the equipment in the name of the Lopez Family Foundation, which she founded together with her sister Linda, at an official event attended by Panamanian first lady Marta Linares and Health Minister Franklin Vergara.

“Having this foundation that provides medical assistance is truly a blessing” because “it gives us the chance to offer health care and education to thousands of people” in Puerto Rico and now in Panama, J.Lo said.

The Lopez Family Foundation said in a communique that the equipment donated consists of seven telemedicine centers to be installed in different pediatric centers around Panama this year.

Specifically, these consist of digital diagostic equipment and videoconference stations that will allow doctors to interact and collaborate in their patients’ diagnosis and plans for treatment with colleagues in other Panamanian medical centers and with specialists at pediatric hospitals in Los Angeles.

J.Lo opens Thursday in Panama City a world concert tour that will include shows in Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Canada and the United States.

Last night during the New York Yankees 6-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves Alex Rodriguez made some history.

With the Yankees down 4-0 in the top of the eighth inning the Yankees loaded the bases with one out for A-Rod. With the count full Atlanta reliever Jonny Venters throw a 93mph fastball that A-Rod blasted into the left field stands. He hit his 23rd career grand slam; which ties him with Lou Gehrig for the all-time lead in that category. After the game A-Rod spoke with Fox News, “It means a lot. It’s very special,” said Rodriguez. “This game’s very, very difficult. If you’re not going to enjoy these great moments then it’s not any fun.”

A-Rod’s grand slam gave him 1,859 career runs tying him with, Mel Ott for 11th all-time. His 1,922 career RBI’s are two shy of Jimmie Foxx for sixth place. With A-Rod’s power numbers going down significantly, A-Rod proves he still can be a feared hitter.

AFL-CIO has released a video which follows the story of Oscar Sanchez, a car wash worker in California who recently won a union and healthcare access. With the help of United Steelworkers, the Clean Carwash Campaign was launched to organize and assist employees at Los Angeles car washes. Prior to the campaign many of the employees were working long hours and often suffering from chronic diseases or environmental health conditions. These workers continued to work, even while sick, in order to not lose their jobs.

Now car wash workers have a union contract that improves their working conditions and can benefit from health care thanks to United Steelworkers. The union became the health care provider for workers who previously were unable to visit clinics. The success of the campaign will ultimately have a great impact on both the car wash workers’ community and other workers looking to unionize. Sanchez states in the video that he can bring his enthusiasm to fellow workers, and that the campaign can work for other others as well.

The film tells the story of a lawyer (Fassbender) who makes the mistake of getting involved in the world of drug trafficking through a friend in order to solve his money problems.

Bardem will play the film’s friend-turned-villain, Reiner, while Cruz is set to play Fassbender’s fiancé.

The Counselor is award-winning author Cormac McCarthy’s first script, but he is already familiar with Hollywood. McCarthy’s books All the Pretty Horses and No Country for Old Men were turned into award-winning films.

Cruz and Almodovar have worked together a number of times including in Volver, Broken Embraces, All About My Mother and Live Flesh. Shooting for Los Amantes Pasajeros. Is expected to begin this summer in Madrid.

Authorities in Crete, a small community south of Chicago, voted down the construction of a detention center for undocumented immigrants.

The vote against construction of the facility was unanimous among the six members of the board and Village President Michael S. Einhorn.

Activist Jose G. Herrera, a member of the Moratorium on Deportations Campaign, celebrated the decision and had no doubt that the decision was influenced by the March 30-April 1 march from Chicago to Crete organized by his group.

In that march, more than 300 people went to the site where the construction of a center with a capacity of up to 700 beds was planned for future immigrants detained by immigration in the Greater Chicago area.

Crete is a town of 9,111 people 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of the Windy City.

Herrera also gave credit to a peaceful protest staged May 21 when demonstrators closed down a public hearing that was scheduled to be held in Crete about building the center.

Crete had been selected for the project by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Corrections Corporation of America.

Among the arguments they put forward to gain acceptance for the proposed lockup was that it would create a lot of jobs in Crete, but in the end local residents rejected that argument.

Sheriff’s deputies in Texas pulled over a commercial bus upon noticing a defective tail light over the weekend, but what started as a traffic stop wound up becoming million-dollar drug bust.

On Sunday, a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted the El Expreso tour bus and its malfunctioning tail light during routine patrol of Highway 59 near Splendora, TX. After pulling the bus over, the officer deployed his K-9 Ranger. The dog immediately jumped inside the luggage compartment and alerted the officer.

Upon investigation, the officer found 89 grams of black tar heroin, 3,355 grams of heroin, and 7,261 grams of cocaine.

In 2006, artist Jason deCaires Taylor founded and created the world’s first underwater sculpture park in the West Indies. His latest project, however, Museo Subaquatico de Arte (MUSA), has taken him to Cancun, Mexico.

Earlier this week, it was announced 60 new sculptures would be added to MUSA, with many of them having been modeled after local residents.

The sculptures are more than just a stunning and unique attraction, they serve an environmental preservation purpose as well.

Taylor’s beautiful cement figures provide a new habitat for coral and various other marine life. Also, by creating these must-see works of art, snorkelers and divers are diverted from fragile coral reefs.

The Cancun Marine Park is one of the most visited stretches of water in the world with over 750,000 visitors each year, placing immense pressure on its resources. The location of the sculptures promotes the recovery of the natural reefs at it relieves pressure on them by drawing visitors away.

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MUSO was founded in 2009 by Jaime Gonzalez Cano of The National Marine Park, Roberto Diaz of The Cancun Nautical Association and Taylor.

It currently consists of more than 450 permanent life-size sculptures set in the waters surrounding Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Punta Nizuc.

The arrest of Jose Trevino-Morales on money laundering charges on Tuesday, according to the New York Times has resulted in the following travel warning to Mexico. Trevino-Morales is the brother of a Zeta narco chieftan. Trevino-Morales was arrested at his Oklahoma ranch.

The U.S. Embassy alerts U.S. citizens traveling and residing in Mexico to the enhanced potential for violence related to today’s arrests of Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) associates and family members residing in the United States.

This morning, U.S. federal law enforcement agents arrested associates and family members of a senior TCO member, and seized property and assets within the United States. These arrests could result in some form of retaliation and/or anti-American violence. Given the history and resources of this violent TCO, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to maintain a low profile and a heightened sense of awareness.

Brooklyn photographer Antonio Rosario has a new little friend after a chance encounter on his way to the beach .

On his blog, Rosario tells the story of how he came into possession of an adorable calico kitten he appropriately named Mercedes.

We’re driving along Ocean Parkway, headed to Brighton Beach for a morning at the beach. Sometime while we’re driving (I’m in the passenger seat) I hear what sounds like a cat crying. I don’t pay it that much mind as I figure we’re passing by some alley cats or something. Then, a little later when we hit a stoplight, I hear the sound again. This time I think that we have a cat in our car.

Rosario then looked out his window behind him and sees a Mercedes s550 with a broken left turn signal. Inside the broken light housing, Rosario spotted something unexpected, a kitten.

He quickly waved the Mercedes’ driver down and shouted, “You have a cat inside your car!” The unsure woman asked, “What should I do? Is it dead?”

Assuring the woman the cat was very much alive, Rosario told her to pull over. They both pull over and after several minutes of trying to figure out how to open Mercedes’ hood, Rosario notices the kitten’s paw laying limp near the signal light. Worried the kitten had died because the engine was too hot, he poked the kitten, who them began crying again.

The woman tried to drive away saying she would just go to a mechanic or police station, but Rosario, worried for the kitten’s safety, asked her not to.

Finally, the hood was opened, but the kitten had moved and each time Rosario tried to reach in to grab her, he’d burn his hand or arm on the radiator cap.

Ultimately, Rosario got under the car, and using some meat the Mercedes’ driver had, coaxed the kitten out enough that he was able to grab her.

Rosario decided to keep her and immediately took her to the vet.

She seems pretty healthy. Some conjunctivitis in her eyes. Maybe some worms. Possibly a few fleas if any. No feline leukemia (they have a 5-minute test they do now). She was starving and the vet gave her a can of food which she vacuumed down. No RFID tag under her skin. So things look good for her, at the moment.

A federal grand jury in the Western District of Texas has returned an indictment charging 14 defendants, including Los Zetas leader Miguel Angel Trevino Morales (aka “40”) and his brothers, Oscar Omar Trevino Morales (aka “42”) and Jose Trevino-Morales, in connection with a conspiracy to launder Los Zetas drug distribution proceeds by purchasing, training, breeding, and racing American quarter horses in the United States.

The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman, Richard Weber, Chief, Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-Criminal Investigation; FBI Special Agent in Charge Armando Fernandez; and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Javier Pena.

“The allegations in this indictment, if proven, would document yet another example of the corrupting influence of Mexican drug cartels within the United States, facilitated by the enormous profits generated by the illicit drug trade,” stated U.S. Attorney Pitman.

The indictment, returned May 30, 2012 and unsealed today, charges the defendants with one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. According to the indictment, the Los Zetas are a powerful drug cartel in Mexico and generate multi-million-dollar revenues from drug sales. The indictment alleges that since 2008, Miguel and Oscar Trevino Morales would direct portions of the bulk cash generated from the sale of illegal narcotics to Jose and Zulema Trevino for purchasing, training, breeding, and racing American quarter horses in the United States. The indictment identifies millions of dollars worth of transactions in New Mexico, Oklahoma, California, and Texas involving a large number of quarter horses. Jose Trevino, Zulema Trevino, and others used “front” companies to conceal and disguise the true ownership of the quarter horses.

“This investigation reveals the varied attempts by Mexican drug cartels to further their criminal enterprises by any means necessary. As such, the FBI and its partners stand ready to combat all efforts by transnational criminal organizations to undermine our national security wherever and whenever they may be uncovered,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Fernandez.

The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of numerous quarter horses, to include: Tempting Dash, winner of the Dash for Cash at Lone Star Park race track in Grand Prairie, Texas, on October 24, 2009; Mr. Piloto, $1 million All American Futurity winner at Ruidoso Downs on Labor Day 2010; Dashin Follies; Coronita Cartel; and Separate Fire. Furthermore, the indictment seeks the forfeiture of farm and ranch equipment; horse racing equipment; real property in Lexington, Oklahoma and in Bastrop County, Texas; and funds contained in three bank accounts allegedly used in the defendants’ scheme. The indictment also seeks a monetary judgment in the amount of $20 million, representing the amount of money derived from the defendants’ scheme.

“This case is a prime example of the ability of Mexican drug cartels to establish footholds in legitimate U.S. industries and highlights the serious threat money laundering causes to our financial system,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Weber. “This attack on one of the Zeta’s most profitable money laundering schemes is an essential front in the war on drugs and will financially disrupt and help dismantle this violent international criminal organization.”

Upon conviction, the defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison. All of the defendants remain in federal custody at this time.

“Laundering drug proceeds through any financial institution to cover its origin is unlawful.” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Peña. “DEA, along with its counterparts, will continue to investigate drug trafficking and money laundering cases with priority.”

In connection with the indictment, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has today designated Francisco Antonio Colorado Cessa as a specially designated narcotics trafficker.

“We have found Francisco Colorado Cessa to be materially assisting the narcotics trafficking activities of Los Zetas and its leaders, Miguel and Omar Trevino Morales,” said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin. “Our action cuts Colorado Cessa off from the U.S. financial system, and it is yet another signal to Miguel and Omar Trevino Morales and the Zetas that OFAC will target their financial and business network wherever it is found. I commend the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in its hard-hitting investigation.”

Colombian actor John Leguizamo will return to the big screen with the fourth animated “Ice Age” movie, a film that he said reminded him of his childhood and allowed him to share with his children the experience of giving voice to a character.

“The great thing about these films is that you become a 5-year-old child again, you enjoy yourself, you get all crazy. It’s like when you played alone in childhood,” the actor told Efe during an interview in New York.

In “Ice Age 4: Continental Drift,” which begins showing in theaters on July 13, Leguizamo once again provides the voice of the lazy bear Sid.

The star of this new animated film is Scrat, and his pursuit of an acorn, which he has been trying to get since the dawn of time, brings consequences that change the world, creating a continental cataclysm that leads to a big adventure for the mammoth Manny (Ray Romano), saber-tooth tiger Diego (Denis Leary) and Sid.

Jennifer Lopez also contributes her voice to the new film to bring life to Shira, a saber-tooth tigress who is in love with Diego.

The 48-year-old actor said he was proud that his children Alegra and Luca, ages 11 and 2, worked for the second time on an “Ice Age” saga as extras, making the voices of small animals.

“I loved it. I was so proud to see them there taping and they are very good. They put a lot of drama into their voices and added a lot of fear when they had to have fear, or laughter. They’re good actors,” he said.

The bodies of three miners who were trapped on March 1 in a cave-in near the Peruvian capital were recovered Tuesday by their relatives three months after authorities suspended the search for them due to the high risk of further mine collapses and toxic gases.

The mine is located in an area known as Agua Salada, which can only be accessed after a five-hour hike, and thus the bodies are still in the vicinity of the mine, RPP radio said.

Claudia Porras, the sister of one of the dead miners, asked the authorities for help, saying: “They haven’t helped us with the recovery work, but we need them to help us with the transport of the bodies.”

Elissa Justiniano, the mother of another of the victims, added that relatives of the miners had spent about 18,000 soles ($6,600) in the search for their loved ones and that they have now run out of money.

“A helicopter is our only hope, because the bodies are very damaged and we don’t want them to be damaged further. We want to take them to give them a Christian burial,” Justiniano told RPP.

Authorities have decided to send a team of police and prosecutors to the area to arrange the transfer of the miners’ remains.

A day after the accident, a miner who managed to escape the collapse alerted the authorities who, initially, organized a rescue operation.

However, Peruvian authorities decided to suspend the search three days later after hearing the recommendations of other miners who warned about the great danger that a new collapse would completely block the tunnel, possibly trapping more miners and/or rescue workers inside.

The late Auxiliary Bishop Agustin Roman, one of the spiritual leaders of South Florida’s Cuban exile community, left $60,000 in his will to the Matanzas diocese in Cuba, the Miami archdiocese said Monday.

Throughout his life, Roman, the first Cuban to be consecrated bishop in the United States, “generously supported the Church in Cuba ... and he now in death continues to support the Church in Cuba,” Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski said in a statement.

Wenski recalled that Roman, who died April 11 at the age of 83, was ordained in Matanzas in 1959.

Expelled from the island in 1961 by Fidel Castro’s regime, Roman eventually settled in Miami, where he supervised the construction of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity, Cuba’s patroness.

“Once referred to as a hero for his successful efforts to quell a prison riot, Bishop Roman with humility would respond: ‘A bishop, a priest, is a servant, not a hero,’” the Miami archidiocese said.

The $60,000 that he left in his will to the Cuban diocese were delivered to Msgr. Manuel Cespedes, bishop of Matanzas.